Feed mechanism for bread slicing machine



'Aug. 21, 1956 w. w. HARTMAN 2,759,510

FEED MECHANISM FOR BREAD sucmc MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 tar/21:7

firm INVENTOR. WILL/nu M4 l/qernmu Original Filed 001:

Aug. 21, 1956 w. w. HARTMAN 2,759,510

FEED MECHANISM FOR BREAD SLICING MACHINE Original Filed 001:. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 9 INVENTOR. 15 f? W/LLm/n #mrMn/v 32 1, 1956 w. w. HARTMAN 2,759,510

FEED MECHANISM FOR BREAD SLI CING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CONSTANTLY MOVING CONVEYOR LonFsmp 1 HNGEESQYO 1m is I I INVENTOR.

1 WILL/4M hf finer/MN 2,759,510 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 FEED MECHANISM FOR BREAD SLICING MACHINE William W. Hartman, Los Angeles, Calif.

Original application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,868. Divided and this application February 27, 1956, Serial No. 567,937

11 Claims. (Cl. 146l53) This invention relates generally to slicing machines of the type adapted to slice loaves of bread, and more particularly to loaf feeding means for such machines.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 462,868, filed October 18, 1954, now abandoned.

The slicing mechanism of a bread slicing machine usually consists of a series of horizontally spaced knives moved longitudinally in either a vertical direction or a direction somewhat inclined from vertical, and to and through which the loaves are fed by various types of feeding mechanisms. Feeding mechanisms for feeding the loaves through the knives have been made in various ways, all with certain deficiencies, and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide improvements in the a feed mechanism, with the view of making possible better and faster slicing, giving more time for each loaf to pass through the slicing mechanism for a given number of loaves sliced per minute, elimination of previously used complications such as elevators, loaf boosters, and the like, and the provision of synchronization of the feed mechanism with the outfeed and wrapper feeding mechanisms.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved slicer feed mechanism which will move the loaves through the knives by mechanical means acting on the loaves one at a time, and which is capable of handling fresh baked loaves without crushing or deforming them.

Another object is to provide an improved machine of the general type stated having an infeed conveyer on which the loaves may be placed several at a time, rather than one at a time in separate conveyer pockets as must be done with common pocket feed type machines.

A further object is to provide a slicer feed mechanism in which an increased proportion of the cycle of the machine is devoted to the actual slicing of the loaf, and which therefore makes it capable of higher output in terms of loaves sliced per minute, without abuse to the loaves.

In accordance with the present invention, the loaves are initially placed on a long infeed conveyer embodying an intermittently advanced conveyer belt, which belt carries the loaves one at a time onto a continuously moving higher speed multiple spaced chain conveyer which is preferably quite short, and between the chains of which stop fingers move up and down to temporarily stop each loaf, and then release the same in timed relation with the operation of a third conveyer equipped with positively acting pusher flights, which flights actually push each loaf against and part way through the knives of the slicing mechanism. The loaves are sliced part way through while being advanced by the flights of this mechanism, and are then moved the balance of the way through the knives by pressure of the succeeding loaf, thus moving beyond the slicing mechanism and onto an outfeed conveyer. The sliced loaf so delivered from the knives is received by this timer outfeed conveyer and delivered from the machine to the wrapping machine.

With this brief preliminary outline, I shall now proceed to a detailed description of one present illustrative embodiment of the invention, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bread slicing machine in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough, be-

ing taken primarily just inside the near side Wall as seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a section taken in accordance with line 2a-2a of Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a section taken through the multiple chain and pusher conveyer mechanisms, being taken in accordance with the section line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3a is a detailed section taken on line 3a3a of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a section taken in accordance with line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4a is a detail showing the mounting of a pusher on a pusher conveyer chain;

Fig. 5 is a transverse view taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section taken in accordance with the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan and section taken in accordance with the line 7-7 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7a is an enlarged detail view taken from Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a section through the gear box, in accordance with line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a loaf hold down mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a diagram of certain of the main operating parts of the machine;

Fig. 11 is another diagram showing a subsequent position of certain of the parts; and

Fig. 12 is a timing diagram of the machine.

The slicing machine as a whole is designated generally by the numeral 10. It has an intermittently operating infeed conveyer belt 11, slicing knives, designated at 12 in Fig. 2, a belt type outfeed conveyer 13, and mechanism generally designated at 14 for receiving the loaves from belt 111 and conveying them successively through the knives 12.

The knives 12 are preferably band blades of the type now well known in the art. They may, for example, be twisted into the well known figure 8 fashion, and looped over upper and lower drums, not shown, housed in the lower part of the machine and in an upward housing extension 15 shown in Fig. 1. The two runs of each such blade may cross one another at an angle such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the plane or axis of symmetry A-A of the blades, i. e., the plane defined by the axes of the upper and lower drums over which the blades run, is preferably tilted at an angle of about 33 from vertical, both to save height in the machine, and so that the loaves may travel at a downward inclination, and thus be aided by gravity, in their motion toward the blades. Suitable blade spacing mechanism for both guiding the blades and adjusting their spacing may be provided, but is well understood in the art and therefore not illustrated beyond to indicate guide elements at 16 in Figs. 2 and 3.

The machine as a whole has suitable frame work of the type conventional in the art, and is preferably covered with sheet metal side walls as indicated. At the ingoing end of the machine is a horizontally disposed loading table 20, having a sheet metal top 21, apertured to expose the upper run of the infeed conveyer belt 11. This belt, which is preferably of a woven wire type, runs on rubber rollers 22 and 23 whose shafts 24 and 25, respectively, are mounted in suitable bearings carried by horizontal angle members 26 spaced a short distance inside .the longitudinal sides of table 20, and which form a part of the frame structure of the machine.

A main drive shaft extends transversely across the machine, and is journalled in bearings carried by a frame supported bracket 31 and gear box 32, and in this particular case, the shaft 30 is synchronized with and driven by a wrapping machine, not shown. The driving interconnection between the shaft 30 and the wrapping machine is partially shown, however, and includes a sprocket 34 on shaft 30, and a chain 35 driving said sprocket, the arrangement being understood to be such that the shaft 30 makes one revolution for each loaf wrapping cycle of the wrapping machine.

The shaft 30 drives a second transverse shaft 36 at one-to-one ratio by a chain 37 and suitable sprockets, and the shaft 36, journaled in a bearing at 40, in a second bearing carried by a bracket 41, and in another bearing at 42 mounted atop gear box 32, carries a pair of earns 43 and 44, whose functions will be described later, and carries a crank arm 45. Pivotally connected to crank arm 45 is an end of a connecting rod of arm 46, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a crank arm 46a loosely mounted, i. e., rotatable on, a transverse shaft 47. The shaft 47 is journaled at its ends in bearings carried by mounting plates 48 secured to the aforementioned frame members 26. Tightly mounted on shaft 47 is a ratchet wheel 49, and a pawl 50 carried and oscillated by arm 46 engages this ratchet wheel 49 and rotates it, and therefore shaft 47, through a predetermined angle for each revolution of the crank 45.

A sprocket 51 on ratchet driven shaft 47 is connected by chain 52 with a sprocket 53 on conveyer belt roller shaft 25. It will be evident that the described driving gear for the conveyer belt 11 will intermittently advance the loaves through a predetermined distance.

Immediately beyond the end of the conveyer belt 11 is a fast, continuously traveling endless conveyer 60, preferably constituted of a plurality of spaced chains 61 running on a plurality of spaced sprockets 62 on a shaft 63, and on a plurality of spaced sprockets 64 on a corrugated roller or mandrel 65 having end shaft portions journaled in bearings supported by vertical guide bars 138 of a later described further conveyer mechanism. The upper flights of the chains 61 are horizontal and are level with the upper flight of the conveyer belt 11, and are positioned as close thereto as practicable, so that the loaves have only a small gap to bridge in passing from the end of the belt 11 onto the chains 61. The sheet metal top 21 is apertured as indicated at .68 to expose the upper runs of the chains 61, and the latter ride at an elevation just slightly higher than the top 21, as shown. The sprocket roller 64 is preferably formed by longitudinally grooving a cylinder to the contour or profile (as seen in cross section) of a sprocket, and then cutting circumferential, axially spaced grooves such as to form the spaced chain sprockets 64, and to form also intervening longitudinally grooved loaf impelling rolls 71 which turn with the sprockets, the top 21 being apertured to expose not only the chain 61 but the sprockets 64 and impellers 71 as well.

An end sprocket 72 fast to roller 65 is connected by a drive chain 73 (Fig. 2), with a substantially larger sprocket 74 on shaft 30 (Fig. 6), so that conveyer chains 61 are relatively fast traveling-substantially faster than the linear speed of the belts 11 when the latter are in motion.

In the operation of the machine, the loaf advanced from belt 11 onto fast traveling conveyer chains 61 comes up against a plurality of stop fingers 80 reaching up between the chains 61, and is temporarily restrained from further advance by such fingers, the continuously running conveyer chains 61 meanwhile skidding" past the underside of the load. These fingers are then, at the proper time, moved downward to release the restrained loaf, which is then kicked forward by the chains and the corrugated rolls 71 onto a third and presently described conveyer.

The stop fingers project upwardly from a transverse bar or cross head 81 mounted on the upper end of a cylinder 82 which is slidable on a plunger 83 on the upper end of a rock arm 84 pivotally mounted on the frame at 85. The fingers 80 are guided between two transversely extending members 80a and 80b (Fig. 3). The means for vertically moving the fingers QQmprises a swinging cam follower arm 86 rockably mounted on a shaft 87 supported by brackets 31 and 41, said arm bearing a follower roller 88 which rides on the aforementioned cam 44 on shaft 36. A link 89 pivotally connects the swinging end of arm 86 with the cross head 81. A coil spring 90 connected between cross head 81 and the base frame of the machine holds the mechanism down against the cam and assures quick lowering of the fingers 80 by the cam. The cam 44 accordingly elevates the fingers 80, permits them to dwell for a predetermined period, then lowers the fingers to release the detained loaf, and then re-elevates the fingers in time to catch and stop the succeeding loaf. The sheet metal table top 21 is suitably apertured to pass the fingers 80, as indicated at 800 in Fig. 5.

As a preferred feature of the invention, in order to stabilize the last loaf on the conveyer belt 11, a reciprocating loaf hold down member is provided over the end region of the belt 11, where the last loaf on the conveyer belt is intended to come to a temporary rest, the loaf actually, in such position being partially off the belt 11, with its advanced lower corner resting .on table top 21, almost onto the chains 61. The hold down member 95 descends to engage the loaf temporarily in such position. It comprises a ribbed plate extending longitudinally over the loaf to be clamped thereby. This plate 95 is pivotally carried by a horizontal shaft 96 (see Fig. 9) which passes through a lug 97 secured to plate 95 near one end thereof and through the lower portion of a vertically extending bracket 98 secured to plate 95 near the other end thereof, this shaft 96 having a right angle bend, as shown, so as to form a supporting arm portion 99 which reaches horizontally from a tubing 100 surrounding a fixed shaft 101, the latter being supported between ears 102 of a later described frame member 112a. A second supporting arm 103 reaches horizontally from tube 100 and is welded to an intermediate portion .of the shaft portion 96, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. A vertically extending arm 104 welded to tubing 100 pivotally receives a right angle bent end portion of a rod 105 that reaches horizontally in parallelism with rods 99 and 103, and this rod 105 has a further right angle bent portion 106 pivotally engaging the upper .end portion of bracket 98. Rod 105 has a perforated lug 107 through which passes a vertically extending operating rod 108, there being a coiled spring 109 placed around the rod 108 above lug 107. A nut member 110 screwed on the upper end of rod 108 serves as an abutment for the upper end of spring 109, and a nut member 111 adjustably positioned on a screw threaded extent of rod 108 below lug 107 furnishes a shoulder or abutment engaging the underside of the lug 107.

The rod 108 is pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 108a, to the swinging end of rock arm 109 rockably mounted on the aforementioned shaft 87 .(Fig. 6) and bearing follower roller 1097a which engages the periphery of the aforementioned cam 43 (see also Fig. 2a). The cams 43 and 44 bear the angular relations to one another shown in Figs. ,2 and 2a. As will be ,SGen, the two cams are alined, so as to move the rock arms 86 and 109 up and down in phase with one another. The loaf hold down plate 95 is moved betweenthe upper loaf releasing position and the lower loaf engaging position shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Beyondthe multiple chain conveyer unit 60 is a third conveyer unit providing a downwardly tilted table or chute 110, which receives the loaves one at a timeofi conveyer-chains 6,1, and guides them to a support plate 110a and the guide fingers 16 over which they pass in their travel against and through the knives 12. The loaves are positively advanced or pushed along the latter position of downwardly tilted table 111] by spaced flights of pusher blades or paddles 111 pivotally carried by a pair of endless chains 112. To accomplish this mounting, ivot pins of the chain are replaced by longer pins 112]), and these engage in bushings 1120 set into the ends of the pushers (see Fig. 4a).

The chains 112 each run over two upper sprockets 113 and 114, and two lower sprockets 115 and 116, the sprockets being positioned so that the chain fiights or runs between sprockets 113 and 114 are downwardly inclined, as shown, being positioned above and parallel with the table 110. The shafts for the sprockets are supported by suitable bearings carried by spaced frame plates 112a supported inside the outside walls and frame work of the machine as clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

The pushers 111, of which there are three in the present embodiment of the invention, are plate like members extending between the chains 112, and are formed with central blade-like extensions 111a. Each pusher has a flat forward face 129, a base edge 121 at right angles to face 12% and a flat rearward face 122 extending for a distance from edge 121, as shown. The base edge 121 is adapted to slide along or move just above the table 110 (Fig. 3), the face 120 being at right angles to table 110, so as to engage the rearward side of a loaf 122 (Fig. 3).

lntegrally formed with and extending rearwardly from the two ends of the pusher are generally rectangular guide bars 123, these bars extending at right angles to the plane of the pusher face 120 and being substantially flush with said face at one end. The bars extend rearwardly from the pushers from positions spaced above the base edge 121 at both ends thereof, as shown.

The pushers are guided along above the table 110 by the bars 123, which siide in guideways formed by parallel upper and lower guides 130 and 131 secured to the frame plates 112a as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. For the return trip, below the table 111), the bars 123 slide in a guideway formed between parallel upper and lower guides 132 and 1.33 secured to frame plates 112a. The pushers are guided downwardly beyond table 110 between guides 134 secured to the inner sides of guides 130 and 131, and thus positioned opposite the end portions 111]; of the pushers (Figs. 3, 3a and 4), and guides 135 secured to the underside of table 113, the latter also being positioned opposite the end portions 111/) of the pushers 111, i. e., just inside the pushers guide bars 123 (see Fig. 4). As may be understood from a consideration of Fig. 3, the pushers ride downwardly guided by their flat rearward faces in sliding engagement with the flat guide edges of the guides 135. Finally, the pushers are guided upwardly at the opposite end of the pusher conveyer mechanism between guides 138 extending at right angles to table 1119 and secured to the inner sides of guides 1311 and 131, and guides 139 extending upwardly from the corresponding end portions of guides 132, these guides 138 and 139 being thus positioned opposite the end portions 11112 of the pushers, just inside their guide bars 123 (see Figs. 3 and 4).

The arrangement has been made such that the pushers are guided to be at right angles to the chains and to the table 110 during the upper run of their travel, then to descend in parallelism with the chains, then to travel along the lower run again at right angles to the chains, and finally to rise in parallelism with the chains, so that they approach the upper run at right angles thereto. To permit this action, the rearward end portions of the guides 131 are terminated and shaped, as as 14s, so as to clear the trailing ends of the pushers guide bars 123 at the end of the upper run, above the table 110, and it will be seen that the forward faces 120 of the pushers will engage the surfaces 141 of the guides'134 to prevent them from rotating as the chains are turned downwardly by the sprockets 114. The pushers then ride downwardly in parallelism with the chain in engagement with the guides 135. At the end of this downward run, in a position just beyond that illustrated in Fig. 3, the base ends 121 of the pushers will engage the guides 133, causing the pushers to rock through a small angle in a left handed direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, so that their guide bars 123 will swing downwardly and under the inclined end portions 144 of the guides 132. The pushers thus travel along the lower run of the conveyer at right angles to the chains, it being understood that the guide bars 123 slide between the guides 132 and 133 at this time. The rearward face 122 of the pusher then engages the guides 138, which prevents the pusher from rotating as the chains pass around the sprockets 116. The pushers thus are guided in parallelism with the chains on their upward travel, as shown in Fig. 3. They thus rise in a direction at right angles to the bread chute or table 110. At the end of this final or rising run, the guide bars 123 engage the undersides of the guides 130, preventing them from rotating as the chains pass around the sprockets 113. The bars 123 slide along in engagement with the undersides of the guides 130, shortly passing over and then being further guided by the guides 131, as earlier described. Thus a very novel and advantageous motion has been provided, the pushers passing both downwardly and upwardly without swinging about, so that only very narrow gaps need be provided for the passage of the pushers at both ends of the bread chute or table 110, such as can easily be bridged by the loaves passing from the conveyer chains 61 to the table 110, and from the latter to the outgoing support a.-

The pusher conveyer just described is driven from certain presently described gears in gear box 32 via a driven shaft 150, a sprocket 151 on said shaft, a chin 152 connecting sprocket 151 with a sprocket 153 on a shaft 154 journaled in the lower portions of frame members 1122:, and sprockets 155 on the ends of said shaft 154 connected by chains 156 to sprockets 157 which are on shafts driving the conveyer chain sprockets 115, as shown.

The gear box 32 (see Fig. 8) contains a spur gear 160 on main drive shaft 30, an idler spur gear 161, and a final spur gear 162 on the aforementioned shaft 150 that drives the pusher conveyer. As may be seen in Fig. 8, the gears 160, 161 and 162 are all eccentrically mounted .on their respective shafts, and so arranged relative to one another that for of rotation of drive shaft 30, the driven shaft 150 is driven at reduced speed, and turns less than 180", while for the remaining 180 of rotation of shaft 30, the driven shaft 150 is driven at increased speed, and turns through an angle greater than 180. Of course, the gears 160, 161 and 162 being all the same size, the driven shaft 150 makes one complete revolution for each revolution of main drive shaft 30. Also, the drive ratio from shaft 150 to the pusher conveyer chains is made such that the chains and pushers (assuming three pushers) travel through a distance equal to one-third of their entire circuit for each revolution of shaft 150. It will be seen that a portion of this distance will he traveled at a reduced speed, and the remainder at an increased speed, as compared with the norm.

Further, the mechanism is so timed that the slowspeed portion of the pusher travel will occur while the loaf is being forced against and through the loaves, so as to increase the time of the cycle devoted to slicing, thus increasing the maximum possible speed of the machine, it being understood that the practical maximum is imposed by the highest rate at which a loaf can be sliced without deforming or abusing it.

The aforementioned outfeed conveyer 13 comprises a conveyer belt provided with spaced cleats 165, affording successive pockets to receive successive sliced loaves received from the knives over table 166. This conveyer belt has rearward roller 167 driven in timed relation to 7 receive the loaves from the knives by chain 168 and a suitable Sprocket in the shaft of roller 167, the chain 168 being driven through suitable sprockets at 168a from a chain 169 which is driven from sporcket 16% on main drive shaft 30.

The drawings also show a conventional loaf guide 170 extending the length of the table on one side, and a shorter loaf guide 171 on the other, these being hung from brackets 172 adjustably mounted on a transverse shaft 173 and being adjustable for loaves of different widths by conventional right and left hand screw mechanism designated generally at 1'74. This device is more or less conventional and need not be further described.

The cycle of operation of the machine will now be described. Reference is first directed to the position shown in diagram in Fig. 10, and to the circle timing diagram of Fig. 12, the position I of the latter corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 10, the loaf hold down plate 95 is elevated, the hold back fingers 80 are elevated, that a sliced loaf a has been deposited on the outfeed conveyer belt 13, a loaf b has been passed part way through the knives 12 by a pusher 111, and that a loaf c has been advanced from conveyer chains 61 onto the pusher conveyer in back of the just mentioned pusher 111. A loaf d is positioned on the continuously traveling conveyor chains 61, but is prevented from moving forwardly by the fingers 80, and a loaf 2 has been advanced by conveyer belt 11 into contact with loaf d. It will be noted that the loaf e is partially off the conveyer belt 11, and almost to the point of engagement with the chains 61. Succeeding loaves f on the conveyer belt 11 are in contact with the loaf e and with one another. At'this point of the cycle, as shown by the diagram of Fig. 12, the intermittently operating conveyer belt 11 has just come to a stop. It will further be understood from what has previously been said that the pusher 111 in engagement with the loaf b in the position of Fig. 10 has just finished the slow portion of its movement, so that the loaf b has been passed at minimized speed part way through the knives 12. The said pusher 111 is then ready to descend, and the next following pusher 111 is ready to rise above the table 110 and to start its forward run thereabove. Also, the fast portion of the pusher cycle is'now incipient.

Sixty degrees later in the cycle, as shown by the'diagram of Fig. 12, the stop fingers 81 have descended to release the loaf d on conveyer chains 61, and loaf hold down plate 95 has descended to engage loaf e and hold it steady on the end of the conveyer belt 11. By this time, the pusher 111 which has been rising at accelerated speed in back of loaf c will have moved a certain distance forwardly above the table 110, leaving space behind it for the loaf d. The latter, released by the fingers 80, is moved by the conveyer chains 61 and advanced to position in back of the last mentioned pusher 111. A little later in the cycle (see Fig. 11), the pusher 111 which has risen behind the loaf c to engage the loaf c and moves it against the partially sliced loaf b, and the loaf b is then moved on through the knives to complete its slicing by pressure from the positively moved loaf c. During'the immediately following stage of the operation, beginning approximately with the position shown in Fig. 11, the pusher conveyer moves again through the slow portion of its cycle, so that the loaf b has its slicing completed at slow movement, followed by slow movement of the loaf 0 against and partially through the knives. After 150 of dwell of stop fingers 8t) and loaf hold down member 95 in the described lowered position, said member-s are again elevated through a period of 60, as represented in the diagram of Fig. 12. During this period, asshown 'by the diagram of Fig. 12, the conveyer belt 11 travels forward for a' period of 120, more or less, advancing the-loaf f to the position occupied by loaf e in the position of Fig. 10. The conveyer 11 continues to travel to the beginning point I of Fig. 12, completing the cycle. Suitable means, not shown, may be'provided for adjusting the time at which 8 the belt 11 begins to move, so as to adjust the travel distance of the belt for different sized loaves.

It will be seenthat I have provided a feed mechanism for positively passing loaves successively through slicing knives characterized by a minimum of complications and a maximum of positiveness, with the devotion of a maximized portion of the cycle to actual slicing of the loaves. Complicated so-called elevators and boosters common in the prior art have been eliminated. The loaves are handled with a. minimum of abuse, and a faster and better slicing operation is achieved, with less expense and complication than have been characteristic of previous loaf feeding mechanisms. It is further to be noted that the infeed operation performed by the operator is of the utmost simplicity, it being only necessary to place the loaves on the conveyer belt 11, usually and most conveniently, several at a time.

1 have shown and described one present illustrative embodiment of the invention. It will of course be understood that various changes in design structure and arrangement'may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Loaf feeding means for a bread slicing machine having a plurality of spaced knives comprising the combinations of: infeed means comprising an intermittently operating endless conveyer belt, a continuously operating endless conveyer adapted and postioned to receive a loaf from said belt on each movement of said belt, stop means for temporarily holding back a loaf on said continuously operating conveyer, said stop means being movable between a loaf holding position and a loaf release position wherein the loaf is released for movement of said continuously operaitng conveyer, a table means for receiving the loaves from said continuously operating conveyer and for guiding the loaves toward said knives, and positive pusher means for engaging the individual loaves after they have been deposited onto said table means by said continuously operating conveyer and advancing the loaves toward and at least part way through said knives, the loaves being advanced the remainder of the distance through said knives by pressure from the succeeding loaf being advanced by said pusher means toward said knives.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said table means is downwardly inclined from said continuously operating conveyer toward said knives whereby the travel of the loaves along said table is assisted by gravity.

3. Loaf feeding means for a bread slicing machine having a plurality of spaced knives comprising the combination of: infeed means for receiving leaves and for intermittently feeding a loaf forwardly therefrom, a continuously operating endless conveyer adapted and positioned to receive loaves intermittently fed from said infeed means, stop means for temporarily holding back a loaf on said continuously operating endless conveyer, said stop means being movable between a loaf holding position and a loaf release position wherein the loaf is released for forward movement by said continuously operating conveyer, said stop means being timed with said infeed means to move to loaf holding position in time to temporarily detain each loaf fed by said infeed means, a table means for receiving the loaves from said continuously operating conveyer and for guiding the loaves toward said knives, and positive pusher means for engaging the individual loaves after they have been deposited onto said table means by said continuously operating conveyer and advancing the loaves toward and at least partway throughsaid knives, the loaves being advanced the remainder of the distance through said knives by pressure from the succeeding loaf advanced by said pusher means toward said knives.

4. The subject matter of claim 3, wherein said continuously operating endless conveyer comprises a plurality of laterally spaced endless conveyer chains, and said stop means comprises a plurality of vertically reciprocable stop lfingers reaching between said chains into the path of the 5. Loaf feeding means for a bread slicing machine having a plurality of spaced knives comprising the combination of: infeed means for receiving loaves and for intermittently feeding a loaf forwardly therefrom, a continuously operating endless conveyer adapted and positioned to receive loaves intermittently fed from said infeed means, stop means for temporarily holding back a loaf on said continuously operating endless conveyer, said stop means being movable between a loaf holding position and a loaf release position wherein the loaf is released for forward movement by said continuously operating conveyer, said stop means being timed with said infeed means to move to loaf holding position in time to temporarily detain each loaf fed by said infeed means, a table means for receiving the loaves from said continuously operating conveyer and for guiding the loaves toward said knives, and endless pusher conveyer means for engaging the individual loaves after they have been deposited onto said table means by said continuously operating conveyer and advancing the loaves toward and at least part way through said knives, the loaves being advanced the remainder of the distance through said knives by pressure from the succeeding loaf as it approaches said knives, said pusher conveyer means comprising a plurality of loaf pusher members, a pair of endless chains carrying said pusher members, and sprockets for said chains positioned to provide an endless pusher conveyer circuit including an upper forwardly extending path paralleling the table means and a return path descending below the table means.

6. The subject matter of claim 5, wherein the pusher members are in the general form of plates extending transversely between and pivoted at their ends on said chains, said plates being formed on their forward sides with flat loaf engaging faces for engaging the rearward sides of loaves on said table means to advance the loaves, and guide means for positioning said plates with said surfaces at right angles to said table means while being moved by said chains through said upper forwardly extending path, and for guiding and constraining said plates against revolving about on their pivotal mountings on said chains while traversing said return path, in such manner and arrangement that said plates approach and recede from the ingoing and outgoing ends, respectively, of said forwardly extending pusher conveyer path in planes extending transversely across said path.

7. Loaf feeding means for a bread slicing machine having a plurality of spaced knives comprising the combination of: infeed means for receiving loaves and for intermittently feeding a loaf forwardly therefrom, a continuously operating conveyer adapted and positioned for reeciving loaves intermittently fed from said infeed means comprising a plurality of laterally spaced endless conveyer chains, stop means for temporarily holding back a loaf on said chains comprising a plurality of vertically reciprocating fingers movable upwardly between said chains into the path of the loaf thereon, and movable downwardly to clear the loaf for forward movement by said chains, means for operating said fingers timed with said infeed means to elevate said fingers in time to temporarily detain each loaf fed by said infeed means, a table means for receiving the loaves fed from said chains and for guiding the loaves toward said knives, said table means being spaced from said chains by a relatively short gap at one end and from said knives by a relatively short gap at the other end, and endless pusher conveyer means for engaging the individual loaves after they have been deposited onto said table means by said continuously operating conveyer and advancing the loaves toward and at least part way through said knives, the loaves being advanced the remainder of the distance through said knives by pressure from the succeeding loaf as it approaches said knives, said pusher conveyer means comprising a plurality of loaf pusher members, a pair of endless chains carrying said pusher members, and

sprockets for said chains positioned to provide an endless pusher conveyer circuit including an upper forwardly extending path paralleling the table means and a return path descending below the table means, with said pusher members moving through said gaps while approaching and receding from said forwardly extending path above said table, said pusher members being in the general form of plates extending transversely between and pivoted at their ends on said chains, said plates being formed on their forward sides with flat loaf engaging faces for engaging the rearward sides of loaves on said table means to advance the loaves, and guide means for positioning said plates with said surfaces at right angles to said table means while being moved by said chains through said upper forwardly extending path, and for guiding and constraining said plates to move through said gaps and through said return path without revolving about on their pivotal mountings on said chains, in such manner and arrangement that said plates pass through said gaps in planes extending transversely across said forward path, and means for continuously driving said pusher conveyer means in timed relationship with said infeed means and hold back fingers such that a pusher member is elevated through the gap at the beginning end of said table immediately following the feeding of a loaf onto said table by said continuously operating conveyer chains.

8. Loaf feeding means for a bread slicing machine having a plurality of spaced knives comprising the combina-- tion of: infeed means comprising an intermittently operating endless conveyer belt, a continuously operating conveyer comprising a plurality of laterally spaced chains,

positioned to receive loaves intermittently fed by said conveyer belt, stop means for temporarily holding back a loaf on said chains comprising a plurality of vertically reciprocating fingers movable upwardly between said chains into the path of the loaf thereon, and movable downwardly to. clear the loaf for forward movement by said chains, means for operating said fingers timed With said intermittent conveyer belt to elevate said fingers in time to temporarily detain each loaf fed by said intermittent conveyer belt, a table means for receiving the loaves fed from said chains and for guiding the loaves toward said knives, said table means being spaced from said chains by a relatively short gap at one end and from said knives by a relatively short gap at the other end, and endless pusher conveyer means for engaging the individual loaves after they have been deposited onto said table means by said continuously operating conveyer and advancing the loaves toward and at least part way through said knives, the loaves being advanced the remainder of the distance through said knives by pressure from the succeeding loaf as it approaches said knives, said pusher conveyer means comprising a plurality of loaf pusher members, a pair of endless chains carrying said pusher members, and sprockets for said chains positioned to provide an endless pusher conveyer circuit including an upper forwardly extending path paralleling the table means and a return path descending below the table means, with said pusher members moving through said gaps While approaching and receding from said forwardly extending path above said table, said pusher members being in the general form of plates extending transversely between and pivoted at their ends on said chains, said plates being formed on their forward sides with fiat loaf engaging faces for engaging the rearward sides of loaves; on said table means to advance the loaves, and guide rneans;

for positioning said plates with said surfaces at right angles to said tables means While being moved by said chains through said upper forwardly extending path, and forguiding and constraining said plates to move through said.

gaps and through said return path without revolving about on their pivotal mountings on said chains, in such manncr-- and arrangement that said plates pass through said gaps in planes extending transversely across said forward path, and means for continuously driving said pusher conveyer means in timed relationship with said intermittent cons veyerrbelt'and holdbackfingers such-that a =pusher-member is eleyatedfihrough =thegap at the beginning end of saidtable. immediately following the feeding of a1 loaf'onto said tableby said continuously operating conveyerchains.

9.- Thesnbjectimattenof=claim 8-, including-also areciprocableiloafthold;downmember engageable with the top of the last l0afon=said intermittent conveyer-belt feed means, stop; means. for temporarily holdingback: a

load Orr-said; continuously operating-endless .conveyer, said stop m eans beingmovableibetween aloaf holding position and; a-. loaf release. position Whereinthe loaf is released for f rWard-movement by said-continuously operating conveyer, said stop means being timed- With said infeed means to move to-loaf'holdingposition intime totemporarily-detain-each loaf fed by said infeed means, and

pusher means timed with said stop means for engaging 1o avesas;they are-fedfrom said continuously operating conveyer:and'adv-aneingthem into slicing engagement with saidknives;

11; The subject matterof claim 10, wherein the infeed' mea-ns'comprisesanintermittently operating endless conveyer-bel-t; and including also a reciprocating loaf hold downmean-s en-gageable-with the top of the last loaf on said-- intermittent-1y operatingconveyerbelt duringthe periodsofrest of said belt.

References-Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rose Aug. 11, 1942 Koning: June 1, 1954 

